NURSING, MISSIONS AND SERVING OTHERS

NAMIAH SIMPSON ’22 is a 10-time NAIA Track and Field All-American and two-time Academic All-American — she is also a nursing major.

“When I was younger, I always had this inkling to be in the medical field and had a spirit for helping, so I always knew I would be in this field; I didn’t know the impact God was going to allow for me in that.”

During one of her nursing classes, there was a presentation on medical missions that intrigued Namiah. She was given the opportunity to go on a two-week medical mission trip to Uganda.

“At first I was kind of leery of it since I had never been out of the country,” she said. “I started praying about it and asking God for peace about it if He wanted me to go.”

Along with peace, Namiah also needed the means to make the trip. Her prayer was answered when her home church provided the remaining balance she needed.

The flight took about 36 hours, going from Orlando to New York, then to Belgium before finally arriving in Entebbe. There, Namiah was part of a group of 14 students that worked with Watoto Church.

She and her team helped mentor medical staff in various areas of Uganda, speaking with clinicians and doing continuing education on identifying and treating trauma.

“It was so rewarding to see how eager they were to learn,” said Namiah. “They always had pens and notebooks out and were asking questions.” my everyday life and love beyond reason,” Namiah said.

Namiah and her team spent time serving the neglected, orphaned and widowed of the country in the capital city of Kampala and in Bira, Suubi and Gulu. They provided respite care to the mothers of the villages, consisting of a foot washing station, a massage station, a decompress station with worship music and a story sharing station.

The selflessness of the mothers was what stood out the most to Namiah, who served at the foot washing station the most. “Listening to those moms’ stories and how they love beyond reason and how selfless they are was so impactful,” she said.

Beyond that, Namiah saw her future profession in action and felt at home doing what she was called to — even though she was 7,500 miles away from home. Along with helping treat and heal people physically, Namiah wants her future patients to see Jesus through her work.

“I don’t see nursing as a career field and just a way to make money; how can I step in at my patients’ most vulnerable and weakest point in their life and encourage them?” said Namiah. “How can I offer a listening ear? How can I have the care that I give them reflect who Christ is?”

The Palm Coast native has interest in returning to Uganda for an extended trip working in a clinic. Namiah learned that many who come to Uganda to help are trying to get people out of the situation — instead of helping revive a country that has overcome dictators, mass killings, a coup and war over the last 60 years.

“I now see nursing as my mission field,” she said. “God is redeeming and restoring this nation.”

Namiah graduated in December and is now pursuing her master’s in nursing while completing her eligibility in track. She plans to work in a general practice and potentially move to labor and delivery in the future.

When she would ask them what she could pray for, they would never make it about themselves; it was always about their kids. “My biggest takeaway was how I could be more selfless and show that in